Coin holder for mail boxes



May 14, 1929. TEs 1,712,662

COIN HOLDER FOR MAIL BOXES Filed Marqh 26, 1927 Patented May 14, 1929.

warren stares PATENT orrics.

' GEORGE E. GATES, (3F EDGEWGGD, IOW'A, A$SIGNOR O13 ONE-THIRD T0 JOSEPH FQTi-"WARD, Oil EDE'IEW OUD, IDWA, AND ONE-THIRD TU, 'WILLIAM H. STARK, OF

YATES, MISSOURI COIN TIBLIJEB FOB, MAIL Application filed March 28, 192?. Serial Ho. 1'i8,703.

This invention relates to coin holders for mail boxes, particularly rural free delivery mail boxes, and one object of the'invention is to provide simple, reliable and eliicient means for holding postage money and permitting the carrier to remove the same in a ready and expeditiousmanner.

A further object of: the invention is to pro vide coin holding means which may be arranged within a mail box so as not to interfere with the tree introduction or removal of mail matter and which may be manipulated by the carrier in cold weather without the necessity othis removing his mitten or glove, and also without liability of loss of the coins.

lhe invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement 01 parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being; had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a mail box provided with my improved coin holder, the box being partly broken away to expose the holder.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2--2 of Figure l. i

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line 3-3 o1? Figure 2, showing the slide in coin holding position.

Figure 4; is a similar view showing the slide at the limit of its coin displacing or discharging position.

Figure 5 is perspective view otthe slide carrier block.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the slide.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a mail box ct any ordinary or preferred type, and which may be provided with an opening at one end for the insertion and removal of mail, said opening being shown in the present instance as closed by a hinged door 2 adapted to be so cured in closed position by suitable type of latch device 3.

Arranged within the lJOK 1, so as to be ac cessible through the doorway, is the coin holder. This comprises a carrier blocl: or support 4, which, as shown, is of oblong rectangular form and secured to the top of the box by bolts or other suitable fastenings 5. This block is provided at its sides with cutaway or recessed portions 6. Secured to the blocl: by the bolts 5 is a wear plate 7 having side pieces or flanges 8 covering the opposite sides of the block and terminating in guide edges 9 disposed opposite the recesses 6. The end of the block 4; which lies adjacent to and faces the doorway of the box 1 forms an abutment surface 10.

ldormtedupon the block is a coin support ing and displacing or discharging slide 11. This is made of sheet metal and of channeled torli'iation, comprising a bottom plate 12 bearing against the bottom of the wear plate 7 and side walls or flanges projecting upwardly in parallel relation to and bearing against the sides 8 of the wear plate, said pieces or flanges 13 terminating at their upper edges in retaining; and guide tongues ll which engage the guide edges 9 ot the wear plate and reciprocably support the slide in position on the carrier block. The bottom of the slide is preferably provided with guide slot 15 engaging the headed end of one of the bolts 5, whereby the slide is additionally held in position, the end walls 01 the slot forming; stops for engagement with the mentioned bolt, whereby the inward and out- Ward slidingniiovements of the slide are linn ited. The portion of the slide in ad ance of the slot 15 forms a coin supporting shelf or platform 16. The channeled or trouglr shaped slide thus formed is open at each end and provided at its rear end with a linger piece or loop 17 whereby it may be conveniently engaged and drawn outward into coin receiving position. At its opposite or forward end the slide is provided with an upturned flange 18 which may serve as an abutment against which the hand of the operator may bear in retracting the slide, and which normally serves as a detent to prevent slipping of the deposited coins 19 oil the painter-in under any ars or vibrations to which the box may be subjected.

In the use of the device, when the owner 01" the box deposits a letter and desires to deposit a coin or coins for the pro-payment of postage, the slide 11 is drawn outward to the receiving position shown in Figure and the coin or coins l9 deposited upon the shell portion 16, as shown. The carrier on collecting the mail removes the coin or coins from the shelf 16, which is effected in a ready and convenient manner by pushing the slide back to the retracted position shown in Figure 4:, causing the coin or coins by contact with the abutment surface 10 to be pushed forward and over the retaining flange 18. It will be slide against the abutment flange 18.

{forced off ,the shelf, thus preventing any liability of the coins dropping out and fallin to the ground and becoming lost or displace This mode of operating the slide may be readily and conveniently effected without the necessity of the mailman removing his glove "or mitten from the hand employed for the purpose, as is required in the operation of some'kinds of coin holding and dispensing devices.

It will be evident that my invention provides a coin holding and dispensing device which is simple of construction, reliable and efiicient in action, and capable of being ap- 25 plied to any ordinary type of mail boxin a ready and convenient manner and without change of construction; The mode of operation described not only affords great convenience to the owner of the box in enabling him to place the coins in position to be removed, but also reducesthe time and labor of the postman in collecting the coins and prevents any possibility of the coins dropping out and becoming lost during abstraction.

While the preferred form of the invention is as shown herein, it will, of course, be understood that changes in theform, proportions and details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, I claim In a coin holder and dispenser, a horizontally disposed block adapted to be secured to the lower face of a support and ha ving its side edge portions formed with rubbets, guide members secured to the said side edge portions of the block and projecting above said rabbets, and a coin sup orting member slidably hung on the upwarr ly projecting portions of said guides.

2. In a coin holder and dispenser, a horizontal block having its side edge portions formed with longitudinal rabbets, achannel member secured to and embracing the lower portion of the block with its side walls extending above said rabbets, and a coin supporting channel member embracing the first channel member having the upper edges of its side walls bent into embracing engagement with the upper edges of the first channel member whereby the coin supporting member is capable of slid-able movement thereon.

3. In a coin holder and dispenser for a mail box, an elongated block adapted to be secured to the upper wall of the interior of the mail box, the longitudinal side portions of the block being formed with rabbets, a channeled member secured to the lower face of the block and having its side portions extending above the rabbets of the block to form guides, means for securing the block and channel member to said. wall including bolts one of which has a head disposed be.- low the channeled member, and a second channeled member having embracing engagement with the first channeled member and having the upper edges of its side portions bent into embracing engagement with the upper edges of the side portions of the first channeled member above the rabbets. the second channeled member having a longitudinal slot receiving the said. bolt head therein for limiting the sliding movement of said member, and a fingerpiece on the second memher for accomplishing the sliding movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE E. GATES. 

